ocher
Americannoun
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any of a class of natural earths, mixtures of hydrated oxide of iron with various earthy materials, ranging in color from pale yellow to orange and red, and used as pigments.
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the color of this, ranging from pale yellow to an orangish or reddish yellow.
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Obsolete. money, especially gold coin.
adjective
verb (used with object)
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ocher
1350–1400; Middle English oker < Old French ocre < Latin ōchrā < Greek ṓchrā yellow ocher
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Burnt-sienna vines twist through simmering ocher air, while flora sprout through these roiling masses in hues of chromium oxide and cadmium green.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Towering at 300 feet tall, the crumbly ocher cliffs of Palos Verdes Estates boast breathtaking views of Los Angeles’ coastline.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2025
Not sure why but what I do know is that these teams hate each ocher.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 27, 2023
One of the structures has become known as “the red palace” because of the red ocher pigment on the floor and walls.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023
Beside it was a photo of the same spot, though the paper had turned ocher with age, with a boy hanging upside down from those same branches while Ishtar laughed at his antics.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
As a precaution against attack by hostile forces in the dark, the tribesmen recruited a "home guard" of Samburu, armed with spears and with hair ochered to frighten off any evil-minded people.
From Time Magazine Archive
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
